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PHRASAL VERBS
STUDY TIPS
The adverb or preposition that is used to form the phrasal verb is sometimes called
the particle.
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Phrasal Verb
fall off
Predictable
Meaning
decrease in number
Sales have been falling off in the last quarter due to the
increase in interest rates.
call back
telephone again
Phrasal verbs are commonly followed by prepositions and adverbs such as: in, out,
up, off, back, into, on, over, down and others. Compare how the meaning of a verb,
for example go, changes with the preposition or adverb.
Phrasal Verb
go ahead
go along with
go back
go for
go into
go on
go out with
go over
go through
go with
Meaning
to proceed with permission
to agree
to return to a place
to aim for
to investigate
to continue
to date
to review
to undergo
to harmonise in style, colour
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put down
[intransitive]
Meaning
1. write down
someones name on
a list to include them
in an event
2. a part payment with a
promise to pay the
rest later
Example
Ive put you down for the soccer
match next week.
reduce prices
carry on
get on with
look into
come across
go through
run out of
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Style
Phrasal verbs are characteristic of informal language, and are commonly used in
spoken English. In academic writing, it is important not to use phrasal verbs. Below is
a list of phrasal verbs with possible formal verb choices.
Phrasal Verb (informal)
ask out
break out
bring up
call on
check out
come off
drop out of
duck out of
enter into
face up to
fall into
fall out with
find out
fix up
fork out
gear up
get away with
get out of
go after
go through
hit out at
iron out
keep up
lie down
light up
look into
look over
look up to
pass out
pay back
pick on
pick up
put down
put off
put up with
show up
take off
talk into
try out
turn down
wait on
work out
Verb (formal)
invite
erupt
mention (a topic/event)
visit
investigate
become detached
withdraw (from)
avoid
become involved (in)
accept (a difficult situation)
belong (to a group/category)
quarrel
learn/discover
arrange
pay (money)
prepare
avoid punishment
avoid
pursue
examine
criticise
solve/overcome (a problem/difficulty)
maintain properly
recline
illuminate
investigate
examine
respect
distribute
repay
tease/annoy
collect
criticise
postpone/delay
tolerate
appear
leave
persuade
test
reject
serve
resolve differences
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